Hobby Lobby framing department: A great place!

As a retired teacher, I have a box of prints, photos, posters, travel memorabilia, and mementos, some of which I plan to frame.

As a teacher of English literature with its companion history and of fine arts survey, I planned all my summer trips to sites which were part of my curriculum, such as Stonehenge, the Library of Congress, Shakespeare's house, art galleries in major European cities, along with the many art prints I used in teaching the art section of fine arts. I will frame these one day, I promised myself.

Along the way, I bought a few frames, some glazier points, framing wire, some colored drawing paper with the intent of framing everything myself. After many attempts, I discovered I cannot do it. Can't figure it out. So the prints and things have sat for almost five years.

A couple of months ago I took two gorgeous frames, a poster of Stonehenge, a poster of the Eiffel Tower (two places I have been and included in my curriculum), and a huge sheet of muted orange mat to Hobby Lobby and asked if they could help me put all of it together.

You see, one thing Hobby Lobby has that other hobby stores don't have is professional framers who frame pictures right there on site with the customer as witness. This is a wonderful service. Or barring lack of time, the customer can leave the print and return another day to collect the finished product.

Another excellent aspect of this framing service is that the customer is charged according to what is used. I was charged for two pieces of glass and picture wiring and hooks for Stonehenge and the Eiffel. That was it! I brought in everything else!! Hobby Lobby does not even charge for service or time. Miraculous!!

Since that first wonderful encounter, I have taken in a dozen more prints and such and have been charged in varying degrees for parts.For example, I found in my files a certificate for being part of the team that won city championship in softball in the city leagues the summer of my eighth grade year. I have treasured that honor and promptly took that certificate to Hobby Lobby to frame. Because the certificate is such a treasure which I thought was long gone, I eschewed the typical plain black document frame and sought out something really nice. I found a lovely, off-white, double-layered frame on sale for half price, then went through HL's display of pre-cut mats, and found a great match--a cream-colored mat edged next to the certificate with dark brown for contrast. My certificate is dollar-bill green and off-white. Next, Deb put it all together right there on the work space out in the customer area. That was one of the few items for which I had to buy everything. But still, the final cost was $25, an excellent price for all I picked out.

Today I am taking in two prints, one by Monet, one by Sisley. I already have them in frames under glass with white mats that came with the frames. Very dull. I will pick out mats from HL's pre-cut displays for my only expense. Again, my point is that HL provides for varying areas of experience and cost cutting.

At least six people work in the framing section of the Hobby Lobby in my neighborhood. I have worked with most of them. My favorite is Nancy, who can be moody, but as we all have foibles, I ask someone else to help me when she exerts her moodiness (she simply does not talk). Is an employee supposed to be moody? In a perfect world, no, but in the sense of humans reacting to one another, I have no problem with it. She is such a kind, fun person when she is "on" and such a talented framer, that I simply go to someone else on that day and say no problem-o!

So, to summarize: Hobby Lobby's framing department has a multitude of talented, personable people ready to work with customers on the spot. The customer then takes away a finished product rather than waiting for days, and that finished product is usually cost-efficient!

As for other departments, I have asked for service from the fabric department and found those two assistants just as knowledgeable and helpful and polite as those in framing.

So I say, Hobby Lobby all the way!! I truly am sorry that other reviewers have not had the wonderful experiences I have had!